Multiple contact switch



July

Filed March 22, 1961 'llillllllll/M B. E. SHLESINGER, JR

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 6 Sheets-Shea?l 2 July31, 1962 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR

MULTIPLE CONTACT swTTcH med March 22, 1961 INVENTOR .vm vt, T WF? T n.Il /V/d Il Bernard Edward Shlesinger, Jr. Q

July 3l, 1962 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bernard Edwo'rd Shlesinger, Jr.

MMM?- INVENTOR July 3l, 1962 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR 3,047,683

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Filed March 22, 1961 e sheets-sheet 4 uhm lmFL." NQ

W/M//Am i a .i :ii

July 31, 1962 B.l|:. sHLr-:s|NGER, JR 3,047,683

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Filed March 22, 1961 e sheets-sheer 5 a' L; (Jl

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INVENTOR Bernard Edward Shlesinger, Jr.

July 31, 1962 B. E. sHLEslNGER, JR 3,047,683

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Filed March 22, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR'United States Patent O 3,047,683 MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH Bernard EdwardShlesinger, Jr., 906 Bruce Lane, Annandale, Va. Filed Mar. 22, 1961,Ser. No. 97,603 54 Claims. (Cl. 2GB-Z6) This invention relates toimprovements inmultiple contact switches and the like. The presentinvention provides certain variations of multiple contact switches asdescribed in my patent application Serial No. 700,354, filed December 3,1957, now Patent No. 2,874,237, issued February 17, 1959, as well ascopending application Serial No. 62,751 tiled October 14, 1960, nowPatent No. 3,027,- 435 issued March 27, 1962.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple contact rotaryswitch which has an unlimited number of combinations. It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide a multiple contact switch which iscompact and readily assembled.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a contact switchwhich is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a contact switchwhich may be used for programming, computing, aircraft, rocketry,telemetry and telephony and the like.

'It is another object of this invention to provide a multiple contactswitch which may be kept relatively free from dust and moisture.

IIt is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple contactswitch which may be remotely or locally operated. V

Other objects and various further features of the invention will bepointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from the readingof the following specification in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing a casing and contents partially insection;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows exemplifying one possible situation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lines 3 3 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the manner of connectingthe rotatable disc to the shaft;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged `fragmentary section taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3showing the manner of mounting the rotatable disc to the shaft;

FIGS. 5-11 are side elevations shown partially in section of variousmodications of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan section of the structure taken on line 12--12 andlooking in direction of the arrows of FIGURE 11 exemplifying onepossible situation;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section showing thestructure of the stationary contact shown in FIGURE 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the contact members;

FIG. 15a is a side elevation partially in section shown ing a modifiedform of the contact plate assembly;

FIG. 15b is a plan section taken on line 15b-15b of FIGURE 12a andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a top view of a further modification of the contact plateassembly;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation partially in section showing anothermodification of the contact plate assembly.

The switch comprises a cylindrical casing C of any suitable insulatingmaterial, and may have an integral bottom wall 1 at one end. Wall 1 hasa centralized opening 2. The opposite end of casing C may have removablecover 4 which has a centralized opening 5. Cover 4 Patented July 31,1962 may be in sealing engagement with casing C at 6 by any suitablemeans. Casing C has a plurality of openings 8 spaced as desired.Suitable electrical contacts 1t) are inset in openings 8. One form ofelectrical contacts 1t) as best shown in FIG. 13, comprises anonconductive lining 11 having shoulders 12, Contact 13 having shoulders14 and a tip 15, spring 16, and a lug 17. The

lining r11 is set in opening 8 and isheld in engagement by'rany suitablemeans such as cement, friction and so forth. Contact 13, spring 16, andlug 17 are set in lining 11. The spring 16 urges contacts 13 toward theinside of casing C. Shoulders 14 of the contact 13 engage shoulders 12.of the lining 111 preventing further movement and allowing only tip 15.of the contact 13 to protrude into the inside of casing C.

In FIGS. 1-4, opening 2 of wall 1 has a bearing 20 inset therein.Opening 5 of cover 4 has a bearing 22 inset therein. Bearings Ztl and 22are held in place by lock means 24. Casing C contains a plurality ofcontact plates 30 sandwiched between resilient non-conductive Spacers32. Contact plates 30` may be entirely conductive Ior non-conductive inpart as illustrated in FIGURE 16. These spacers 32 may be of a lightfoam or a solid rubber or plastic. They could also comprise spring coilsolf non-conductive material. Contacts 33` are an integral part of theplate 30 and have tapered edges 34. The contact 33 is of semi-circularshape to give some resiliency 4in use. (A better view of edges 34- m-aybe Seen in yFIGURE 14.) Plate 30 has a centralized opening 35. Spacers32 have concave recesses 36 on the outer and inner edges to allow forexpansion without binding other parts of the switch.

A rotary tubular shaft 40 made of a non-conductive material extendsthrough the casing C. Shaft 40 is locked against lengthwise movementwith respect to the casing C by retainer rings 42 locking the shaft 40to bearings 20 and 22. The sleeve of shaft 40 has two elongated openings44 cut out opposite of each other providing hat surfaces 45. The plates30 are keyed to tubular shaft 40 by the flat surfaces 45. Shaft 40 hasconnected at its upper end a gear 48.

A second rotary shaft 50* is centrally threaded. The shaft 50 iscontained in tubular shaft 40` and locked against lengthwise movementwith respect to the tubular shaft 4t) at 52 by any suitable means. Shaft'Sil has relieved portion 54 at both ends o-f the threaded portion forpurposes hereafter explained. At its upper end, shaft 56 has connected agear 56. Shaft 4t)` may be recessed interially as at 58 in order toprevent engagement of the threads of shaft 50 with the inside of tubularshaft 40.

Contained in casing C are non-conductive discs 60. Disc 60 has athreaded opening 612. The threads of opening 62 are engaged to thethreaded portion of the shaft 50 through the openings 44 of tubularshaft 40. Gear 70 is mounted von cover 4 and biased upward by spring 72,and is in mesh with gear 48. Gear 73 is in mesh with gear 56 and biasedupward by spring 74.

The gears 70 and 73 may be mounted in any manner to iit theinstallation.

FIGURE 5 shows a slightly different modification than is illustrated inFIGURE 1. In this arrangement, Wall 1a and cover 4a have largercentralized openings 2a and Sa. Plates Stia have aligned openings St!`with flexible and non-conductive rod members 82 extending through them.Connected to the upper end of rod members 82 and seated in a recess 83of cover 4a is a gear 84. Gear 84 is freely rotatable around tubularshaft 40 and is meshed with gear 85. The gear 85 is keyed to shaft 86.Connected at the lower end ofrod members 82 is an identical set ofgears, as connected to the upper end, seated in the recess 88 of wallla.

FIGURE 6 shows a further modification of the switch. Casing C containsin its top half a plurality of plates 30 and spacers 32. Extendingthrough the plate 30 and the spacers 32 is a shaft 90. Shaft 90 hasconnected at one end a gear 92. Welded at 93 to shaft 90 is a modifiedconductive plate 30b. 96 is an extension of the shaft 90 to the gear 92.The bottom half of casing C contains an assembly inverted and identicalin structure to that contained in the top half. The conductive plates30, 30b and the non-conductive spacers 32 may be bonded to each other byan adhesive or any suitable means.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 7 the nonconductive shaft 100extends lengthwise through the casing C. At one end of shaft 100 ismounted a gear 92 and extension shaft 96a, and at the other end a stop102. Conductive plate 30b is Welded to shaft 100 at 93. Thenon-conductive spacers 32 and conductive plates 30 are bonded to eachother. Plate 30b may not be bonded to spacer 32 for reasons hereinafterdescribed.

The further modication of FIGURE 8 shows the casing C containing in itscentral portion a plurality of conductive plates 30C sandwiched betweennon-conduc tive spacers 32a. At either end ofthe casing C is a pistonassembly 110. Piston assembly 110 comprises a piston head 112 havingshafts 114 extending toward the interior of casing C. At the end ofshaft 114 is connected non-conductive plate 116. Plate 116 is bonded at117 to resilient non-conductive spacer 32a by any suitable means. Pistonhead 112 is in frictional sealing engagement with the casing C at 118.Shaft 114 extends through a rotatable fluid operated gear 120'. Fluidgear 120 would have fixed fins to allow rotation in one direction only.The gear 120 would be mounted between shoulders 122 and would be sealedby O rings124. Bleed lines 126 m-ay be of any conventional means. Afluid supply system 130 comprises fluid lines 132, 133, 134, 135, 136,and suitable valves 140, 1411, 142, 143, and 144. Fluid lines 133, 134,135 and 136 extend through the walls of casing C and are connected inthreaded openings 145, 146, 147 and 148, by any suitable plumbingconnection. The non-conductive spacers 32a and conductive plates 30C arebonded to each other.

FIG. 9 shows tubular shaft 40a having an elongated opening 150. Shaft40a has mounted at one end a gear 152. Shaft 40a is locked againstmovement lengthwise by gear or ring 153. Mounted on the casing and inmesh with gear 152 is a second gear 154. At one interior end of thecasing C a non-conductive plate 160 is bonded to non-conductive spacer32. Connected to plate 1.60 by any suitable means is a cord or cable162. Cable 162 extends through the opening 150 and the non-conductivetubular shaft 40a to a reel assembly 164. Reel assembly 164 may bemounted where desired and may be manually or power driven. Theconnection between the shaft 40a and the conductive plates 30 is similarto that in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. v

yFIGURE shows the conductive plate 30b in another position other thanshown in FIGURE 7.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 11 casing C has an integralsemi-circular housing 170= on its exterior wall. The wall of casing Chas spaced openings 171 positioned to be enclosed by the housing 170.Housing 170 has a rotatable shaft 172 extending lengthwise through it.Shaft 172 has mounted at one end a knob 174. Non-conductive fingers 176mounted on shaft 172 are spaced opposite the openings 171. The spacers32 have a relieved portion 177. The stop fingers 176 are mounted instaggered relationship and are of a length as to have one at a timeextend through an opening 171 to a point past the edge discs 30 whenshaft 172 is rotated. The switch assembly contained within `the casing Cis the same as the structure of FIGURE 9. It is obvious that a secondhousing having stop tin-gers 176 may be located on the opposite side ofcasing C in order to have a more even distribution of the load toprevent binding.

FIGURES 15a and 15b show the conductive plate 30d having contact studs180 connected thereto and opening 182 of resilient nonconductive spacers32b. On compression of spacers 32h Contact studs 180Vare brought intojuncture with the conductive plate 30C above, electrically connectingthe plates.

In FIGURE 16 a non-conductive plate 30e has electrical contacts 33mounted thereto. The contacts 33 may be connected as desired by printedcircuits or lead .wires 190.

FIGURE 17 shows the conductive plates,30e electrically connected byconductive springs 184. The springs 184 are mounted in the resilientnon-conductive spacer 32. The conductive spring 184 may connect any twoof the plates 30e. 186 is a non-conductive washer to prevent accidentalcontact of the spring 184 and the plate 30C.

The plate arrangements shown in FIGURES 15a, 15b, 16 and 17 can readilybe substituted in any of the moditications shown in the other figures.

It will be obvious that the bottom wall 1 and cover 4 may in someinstances be unnecessary as some external support means such as abracket or holder may be used to mount the shafts 4i), 50, 90l and 100.In such instances the cylinder portion of casing C would be separatelymounted on another bracket.

The switch may be limited to two conductive plates 30 separated by anon-conductive spacer 32 if desired.

Operation From the foregoing description it will now be readily seen inFIGURE 1 that on rotation of gear 70, gear 48 and tubular shaft 40rotate imparting a rotatory movement to discs 60 and thus to conductiveplates 301 thereby changing the relationship of the contacts 13 andcontacts 33.

On. rotation of gear 73, gear 56 and threaded shaft 50 rotate, causingthe disc 60 to thread up or down on shaft 50 depending on the directionof rotation. One of the discs 60 will unthread .at relieved portion 54,the other disc 60 will compress the resilient spacer 32 thereby changingthe relationship of the contacts 13 and contacts 33. The rotation andcompression means may be combined to change the relationship of thecontacts 13 and contacts 33.

It will be obvious that the resilient nature of the spacer 32 at thebottom or tcp of the casing C will act as a retainer spring for thediscs 60, enabling the discs to rethread on shaft 5) when the shaft isreversed in rotary direction.

In FIGURE 5 the contacts may be changed by compression of spacer 32 byrotation of gear 48. By rotation of gear 84 through 85 and shaft 86 atone end of the casing C the rod members 82 are twisted to impart atwisting of the resilient spacers 32 thereby changing the relationshipof the contacts 13 and contacts 33. The twisting may be actuated by theshaft 86 or 86a in either direction or may be `accomplished by combinedrotation in opposite directions of gears 84. If both are rotatedsimultaneously in the same direction no twisting action occurs. One setof gears 84 and 85 may be used if the opposite ends of the rod members82 are connected t0 wall 1a of the casing C (not shown). If rotation andtwisting action is all that is required shaft 40 may be Y eliminated.

The gear 92 may be rotated in FIGURE 6 to rotate the shaft therebyrotating the plates 30 and 30b. Compression of the spacers 32 may beaccomplished by pulling the extension shaft 96. The extension shaft 96may be locked in position by any suitable means (not shown). This meanscould be a rack and pawl or releasable rod clutch, or friction washer.The two operations may be combined to change the relationship ofcontacts.

In FIGURES 7 and l0 the shaft 100 may be pulled or pushed to change therelationship of the contacts. Conductive plates 30 and 30b may berotated by rotation Y ofgear 92. The contact plates 30 and Stirb mayalso'be changed by the combined rotation ,and pulling or pushing ofshaft 14N). If rotation of the conductive plates 30` and 36h is desired,the conductive plates Sti and 30!) are bonded to the spacer 32.Otherwise conductive plate 36h need not be secured.

In the modified form FIGURE 8, the relationship of the conductive plates30C and the contacts 10 may be changed by operation of the iiuid supplysystem 13G. By opening valve .140 and either 143 or 144 one of thepistons 112 will be pushed in and thereby compressing the spacers 32a inone direction depending on which valve is opened.v Twisting of thespacers 32a may be accomplished by opening valve 14) and either valve141 or 142. Combined rotation and compression of the conductive plates30e may be accomplished by opening valve 140, valves 141 land 142, andeither-.valve 143 or 144 or both.

The contact assembly may be rotated by opening a valve 146` and openingof both Valve 141 and 142. When no fluid is applied to one fluid gear120, there is enough frictional engagement of that one gear 120 to holdone end of the spacers 32a from rotating thereby allowing twisting ofthe spacers 32a by rotating the opposite gear 1Z0.

In FIGURE 9 on rotation of gear 154 a rotatory motion is imparted tonon-conductive tubular shaft 40a through gear 152. The conductive plates30 in engagement with shaft 40a thereby are rotated on rotation of gear154. The spacersv 32 :are -compressed by winding of cable 162 or reel164. The two `operations may be combined to change the position of thecontacts in relation to each other.

The relationship of the contacts in FIGURE l0 may be changed by pullingor pushing a shaft 100. In this modification when the shaft 100 ispulled only the spacers 32 above the conductive plates 30]] arecompressed. On

the pushing of the shaft 100 only the spacers 32 below the conductiveplate 30b are` compressed. The plates 30 may be adhesively secured tospacers 32 as indicated in FIGURE 7, or insecured if no rotation meansis needed.

In the further modification shown in FIGURE l1 the rotation andcompression of the spacers 32 is accomplished as in FIGURE 9. Byrotation of shaft 174 a selected stop finger 176 may be extended intothe casing C thereby providing a stop for the compression of the spacers32 only below the selected finger. It can now be readily seen thatinnumerable contact positions can be devised upon the inside cylindricalsurface of the casing C. By proper positioning of contacts on the plates30 an unlimited number of circuits and combinations can be obtained.

While the invention has been described in connection with differentembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodifications, and this application is intended to cover any variation,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within knowing or customary practice vin thefart to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to theessential features hereinbefore set forth and fall within the scope ofthe invention or appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A multiple contact `switch comprising a'casing, contacts in wall ofsaid casing, a plurality of stacked contact plates having spaced contactmembers thereon, non-conductive springy resilient expansible andcompressible spacer members between said contact plates, means forrotating said plates and said spacer members, and means for compressingand expanding said spacer members, whereby upon rotation of said plates`and said spacer members, or compression or expansion of said spacermem- 6 bers, or both, the electrical circuits between said wall contactsand said Contact plates are changed.

2. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein the compressionand expansion means includes means for compressing and expanding lessthan all of said spacer members. f

3. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein a portion of eachof said contact plates is non-conductive.

4. A multiplecontact switch as in claim 1 and wherein a portion of eachof said contact plates is non-conductive, and a portion contains aprinted circuit.

5. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a shaft connected to one of said plates,rotatable and reciprocable in said casing.

6. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a shaft connected to a central plate, saidshaft being rotatable and reciprocable in said casing.

7. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a plurality of shafts each connected to acentral plate, reciprocable and rotatable in said casing, said shaftsbeing independently operable.

8. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a plurality of shafts each connected to aplate and reciprocable in said casing.

9. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a shaft, means in said shaft forcompressing said spacer members.

l0. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a shaft, means in said shaft forcompressing said spacer members, and means for rotating said shaft andsaid plates simultaneously.

1l. A multiple contactswitch as in claim 1 and having means for limitingthe rotation of at least one of said plates with respect to others.

12. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and having means forlimiting the rotation of at least one of said plates with respect toothers, said means including at least one resilient member connected toat least one plate, said casing supporting thereon a rotating memberconnected to said resilient member.

13. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a shaft, means in said shaft forcompressing saidrspacer members, a slot in said shaft, and a -pulleycable secured to one of .said plates and extending through said shaftand guided in said slot, and means for winding said pulley member.

14. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and Wherein said compressionand expansion means includes a shaft, means in said shaft forcompressing said spacer members, said means including slot in saidshaft, a pulley cable secured to a bottom plate and extending throughsaid shaft and guided in said slot, means for winding said pulleymember, and means for rotating said shaft.

15. A multiple contact switch las in claim 1 and wherein said means forrotating, compressing, and expanding said spacer members is `fluidoperated.

16. A multiple contact Iswitch as in claim l and wherein said means forrotating, compressing and expanding said spacer member is fluidoperated, said means including valve means for controlling flow of fluidto said rotating, compressing and expanding means.

17. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein `said means forrotating, compressing, and expanding said spacer members is fluidoperated, said fluid operating means including at least one iiuidoperated piston and at least one uid operated rotor.

18. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and where-v f 7 in saidcompressing and expanding means are fluid operated.

19. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein said casing hasmounted thereon a rotatable shaft having a non-conductive stop fingermounted thereon for allowing one of said plates to be non-reciprocablewith respect to another of said plates.

20. A multiple contact switch as in claim l and wherein at least one ofsaid plates is electrically connected to another of said plates by anelectrical conductor.

21. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein at least one ofsaid plates is electrically connected to another of said plates by anelectrical conductor, said electrical conductor being a conductiveiiexible coil.

' 22. A multiple contact switch comprising a casing, contacts in wall ofsaid casing, a plurality of stacked contact plates having `spacedcontact members thereon, non-conductive springy resilient expandable,twistab'le and compressi-ble spacer members between said contact plates,means for rotating said plates and said spacer members, means forcompressing and expanding said spacer members, and means -for twistingsaid :spacer members, whereby upon rotation of said plates and saidspacer members, or compression, expansion or twisting of spacer members,the electrical circuits between said wall contacts and said contactplates are changed.

23. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein the compressionmeans includes means tor cornpressing and expanding less than all ofsaid spacer members.

24. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein a portion ofsaid contact plates is non-conductive.

25. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein a portion ofeach of said contact plates is nonconductive, and a portion containing aprinted circuit.

26. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein saidcompression and expansion means includes a shaft, and means in saidshaft for compressing said spacer members.

27. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein saidcompression and expansion means includes a shaft, means in said shaftfor compressing said spacer members, and means `for rotating said shaftand said plates simultaneously.

28. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein saidcompression and expansion means includes a shaft, means in said shaftfor compressing said spacer members, means for limiting the rotation o-fat least one plate with respect to others, said means including at leastone resilient member connected to at least one of said plates, saidcasing supporting thereon a rotating member connected to said resilientmember.

29. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and ing said spacer membersis fluid operated.

tor, said electrical conductor being a conductive flexible coil.

35. A multiple contact switch comprisng a casing, contacts in `the -wallof said casing, a pluralityV of stacked contact plates having spacedcontact members thereon, non-conductive springy resilient twistablespacer members between said contact plates, means for rotating saidplates and said spacer members, and means for twisting said spacermembers, whereby upon rotation of said plates and sai-d spacer membersor upon twisting said spacer members or both, the electrical circuitsbetween said wall contacts and said contact plates are changed.

36. A multiple contact switch as in claim 35 and wherein -a portion ofeach of said contact plates is nonconductive.

37. A multiple contact switch -as in claim 35 and wherein a portion ofeach of said contact plates is nonconductive, and a portion contains aprinted circuit.

38. A multiple contact switch comprising a casing, contacts in ythe wallof said casing, a plurality of stacked contact plates having spacedcontact members thereon, non-conductive springy resilient t-wistableexpandable and compressible spacer members between said contact plates,means for compressing and expanding said spacer members, and means fortwisting said -spacer members, whereby upon compressing, expanding ortwisting of said spacer members, the electrical circuits between saidwall contacts and said contact plates are changed.

39. A multiple contact switch asin claim 38 and wherein the compressionmeans includes means for compressing and expanding less than all of saidspacer members.

40. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein a portion ofeach of said contact plates is non-conductive.

41. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein a portion ofeach of contact plates is non-conductive, and a portion contains aprinted circuit.

42. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 wherein said means -forcompressing, expanding, twisting said spacer members is fluid operated.

43. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein said means ,forcompressing, expanding, and twisting said spacer members is fluidoperated, and inand - cludes fluid valve means for controlling flow ofiluid to 30. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein saidmeans for rotating, compressing and twisting said spacer members isfluid operated, said uid means including at least one liuid operatedpiston and at least one fluid operated rotor.

31. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein saidcompressing means is tluid operated.

32. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein said casing hasmounted thereon a rotatable shaft having a nonconductive stop fingermounted thereon -for `allowing one of said plates to be non-reciprocablewith respect to another of said plates.

33. A multiple contact switch -as in claim 22 and wherein at least oneof said plates is electrically connected to another of said plates by anelectrical conductor.

34. A multiple contact switch as in claim 22 and wherein -at least oneof said plates is electrically connected to another of said plates by anelectrical conducsaid compressing, expanding and twisting means.

44. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein said means forcompressing, expanding, and twisting of said spacer members is iiuidoperated, said fluid means including at least one uid operated pistonand at least one fluid operated rotor.

45. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein saidcompressing means is iiuid operated.

46. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein said casing hasmounted thereon a rotatable shaft having a non-conductive stop iingermounted thereon for allowing one of said plates to be non-reciprocablewith respect to another of said plates.

47. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein at least one ofsaid plates is electrically connected to another of said plates by anelectrical conductor.

48. A multiple contact switch as in claim 38 and wherein at least one ofsaid plates is electrically connected to another of said plates by anelectrical conductor,1 said electrical conductor being a conductiveflexible co1 49. A plurality of conductive plates for use in a multiplecontact switch, non-conductive springy resilient expandable compressibleand twistable spacer members, at least one of said conductive plateshaving on at least one face a contact stud, said contact stud extendinginto an opening in at least the adjacent spacer member, whereby oncompression of said adjacent spacer member, said contact stud member isbrought into contact with another of said conductive plates, therebyproviding electrical connection between said conductive plates.

and f 50. A plurality of conductive plates for use in a multiple Contactswitch, non-conductive springy resilient eX- pandable compressible andtwistable spacer members and a conductive coil connecting one of saidconductive plates with another of said conductive plates, whereby onrotation of said conductive plates and said spacer members, twisting,compression or expanding of said spacer mem- Ibers, electrical contactis always assured between said conductive plates.

51. A multiple contact switch comprising a casing, contacts in the wallof said casing, a plurality of stacked contact plates having spacedcontact members thereon, at least one non-conductive springy resilienttwistable spacer member between said contact plates, means for twistingsaid spacer member, whereby the electrical circuits between said wallcontacts and said contact plates are changed.

52. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5l and having means forrotating said plate,V and spacer members.

53. A multiple Contact switch as in claim 51 and having means forexpanding and compressing said contact members.

10 54. A multiple contact switch comprising a casing, contacts in wallof said casing, a plurality of stacked contact plates having a pluralityof spaced contact members thereon, a non-conductive spring resilientexpansible and compressible spacer member between said contact plate,means for rotating said plates and spacer members, and means forcompressing and expanding said spacer members, whereby upon rotations ofsaid plates and said spacer members, or compression or expansion of saidspacer members, or both, the electrical circuits between said wallcontacts and said contact plates are changed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1954

